Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has announced a special partnership between Samoa and Australia. They’re teaming up to start a new program called the Postgraduate Certificate in Executive Leadership at the National University of Samoa. This is thanks to support from the DFAT-Tautai Programme and help from the Public Service Commission.
In her remarks, the Prime Minister talked about how important leadership is, especially for executives, in steering Samoa’s future. She’s happy to see lots of promising leaders eager to learn and get better at leading. The program is part of a bigger plan by the government to make Samoa’s leaders stronger. Samoa’s success depends on having skilled people, so programs like this aim to help leaders in government and other areas meet goals, both here and abroad.
The first group of students started in February 2024. There are 50 spots, some for government workers and some for groups like the Chamber of Commerce and SUNGO. Australia is chipping in $120,000 Samoan Tala to make it happen.
Being a leader means facing tough challenges, but the Prime Minister believes everyone can handle it. The program at the National University of Samoa will give a good start. She encourages everyone to learn from each other and stay open to new ideas.
The Prime Minister thanked Australia for their support and the Public Service Commission and the university for their help.
In closing, she’s excited to see how everyone will make a difference after finishing the program. It’s not just about workplaces, but also about helping communities and Samoa as a whole and she urges the leaders of Samoa to work together for a brighter future through strong leadership.
[original text by Samoa Government]
